Please read the entire thread before jumping in and adding your view on things.
OK, this is going to sound like whining but I really think some one screwed up here and it wasn't Clovis or Amarillo. I blame District 8 and the district contest coordinator for causing both flying clubs to suffer with competing for the same people to come to their events on the same day.
On May 20th my club (Clovis, NM Mads) and Amarillo, TX (ARKS) are having a Class C event. The Clovis event is only on Saturday and theirs is Sat and Sun. Club distances are only 80.6 miles apart from each other. This is field to field driving distance. Both clubs are approved sanctions for the same date. Clovis submitted their request for this date far before Amarillo. Let me make this perfectly clear, I DO NOT blame Amarillo for this error. It should have been prevented by the District Contest coordinator.
I complained to the district 8 coordinator (doug powell) and the VP (sandy frank). Both suggested, we could reschedule our event. Mr. Powell said that the distance isn't measured from field to field that it's measured from town to town. I told them that rescheduling at this late time was not an option. Fliers where printed and we had the ball rolling big time.
I asked for the Rules that they used to interpret this be provided to me so I could read them my self. <I have received nothing 4 days later.>
I was told that Amarillo always has their event this time of year. <I wonder what is being implied here...>
To be honest allot more nouns and verbs where used in the E-mails that transferred back and forth. Both Mr. Powell and Mr. Frank have refused to let me post any of their E-mails in a public forum. I did ask if I could. I would be happy to post all my comments as I am not ashamed of my comments in my E-mails to them.
All I really wanted out of the whole thing was to have them admit they where wrong and where sorry. I knew that Amarillo and Clovis where bound to suffer because these guys just screwed up. (my opinion)
Ironically this was all going on while my previous post was being debated. I can not prove if that had any bearing on things but I sure did get some improper E-mails from Mr. Frank.
I ask you the AMA membership is this fair treatment? Did Mr. Powell make an error? Did Mr. Frank error by backing up his coordinator?
For the record, I will put my comments/Emails below in a qouted box. Please understand that things can be taken way out of context when you can't see both sides of the story. Again I have been denied the ability to post their comments. This is how I fight for my Club's rights and when my club gets what I consider to be the shaft.
E-mail #1
Dr Frank,
As president of the Clovis Model Airplane Drivers Society, I am writing to you to express my disgust with the way the AMA and the district has allowed 3 events to happen within close proximity to each other on the same weekend. At this time Clovis, Amarillo and Alamogordo all are scheduled to have flying event on the weekend of May 20-21, 2006. Clovis was the first to submit and have their dates approved by the AMA and District 8. With these other clubs now having their meets/fly-ins on the same date we are now expecting a worse turn out than we have had in the past.
I would be grateful if the main contest coordinator would pay closer attention to dates and locations in the future. This present situation is what I would consider to be unacceptable. What does district 8 and the AMA have to say for it’s self? I regret there is probably nothing that can be done to remedy this situation at this point in time.
Please feel free to call me on this matter. 505-***-**** on the weekends and evenings.
Regards,
Ken Bryant
MADS President
Email #2
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 2:38 PM
To: 'Doug Powell'
Subject: RE: Disgusted with Chapter 8 and AMA
The 100 mile rule is in effect. The driving distance from club field to club field is under 100 miles. I know I have driven it many times. You need to realize just how close these to clubs are. Amarillo’s field is just off the southwestern boarder of Amarilo on City Lake Road. Our club is on the North eastern corner of Clovis. This creates a shorter distance between the fields in question. The distance between clubs is only 80.6 miles driving.
I understand that Alamogordo is a far enough distance. I wasn’t to worried about the Alamogordo event to start with my main concern is Amarillo.
My biggest issue is that the Amarillo event has been given the go at the same time as ours. Rescheduling is NOT an option for our event. We have spent to much on advritising and publicity to change it now. This was the reason we scheduled early in the year. To keep this VERY thing from happening.
Now that I have pointed out that you are wrong on the distances how do you plan on resolving this error?
Ken
Email #3
Dr. Frank
This sir is one very good reason I am upset with this district. There are NO written rules that I can find that say mileage is considered distance from city to city instead of club to club. This appears as one mans way of trying to talk his way out of a bad situation or admitting a mistake was made. Don’t give me the “well Amarillo has always done this” excuse, that doesn’t float in my book. All clubs should have an equal shot at any date. If one club has their submission in before another then so be it. I saw the writing on the wall well before this actually happened. This was why we submitted our dates as early as wee did we wanted to get the opportunity to have people from Amarillo come to our event and in turn attend Amarillo’s event. Since Mr Powell made this error now both clubs will suffer with lower attendance at their given events. This doesn’t help either club.
Lastly, I promise you if the military allowed me to run for office against you I would give it a try.
E-mail #4
Judging by your response below you and Mr. Powell are going to do nothing about the situation that Mr. Powell put us in?
Would you mind if I posted this letter in it's entirety on RCU for all to see just how this has been handled? Yes, I am asking your permission before doing it. The only thing I will omit from it are E-mail addresses and phone numbers.
Email #5
I also have done a full career in the military I am on my 21st year So that is not relevant. The branch and part of the military I am in is only obvious. Clovis New Mexico is next to Cannon AFB.
The solution is very simple in my mind, you and Mr. Powell have been in error. Nothing is in writing that governs distance in an appropriate manner and opens it's self to wide interpretation. When that happens the interpretation of the rule gets skewed to any persons view point. I asked you for written rules regarding this issue and you have provided nothing.
You have not provided accurate or clear answers to my queries and you only take on a defensive manner when I approach. You sir have not conducted yourself in a professional manner. You nor Mr. Powell have not been willing to accept responsibility for an error made by your staff and your friend. You challenge me based on postings on an internet forum but are not willing to post openly. You are afraid of the public and are only willing to cower behind your keyboard. At least I have the willingness to express my feelings toward you and this district in an open forum and discuss what can be done to improve things. All you do is type one line comments in an E-mail you are not willing to let the world see. Shameful. You are a POOR excuse for an officer in this organization.
Oh and just so you know I will be posting my communications to you on the internet. I will be editing out what you and Chief said because you asked me not to put your comments in. Also I will be writing a complaint to the AMA based upon your actions regarding this issue and the challenging comments that you have written me. Your conduct is unacceptable for an officer within a national organization as this.
Good Day.
Ken Bryant
Email #6
What rules? Where are they written? Provide them to me This is one thing NO ONE has been willing to provide. Where does it stipulate that a 100 mile distance CITY TO CITY is considered the separation?
No where have I asked for "SPECIAL" treatment. I just asked for justice and proof. That "my friend" is the dilemma. When I showed the facts as I knew them NO ONE said anything. All I got from you where childish responses to a post I made on RCU. You still have NOT provided me with anything in the way of proof and neither has Mr. Powell. WHERE IS THIS WRITTEN IN THE RULES? Show me and I will go away. Simple as that.
Trust me I am not scared of you in posting correspondences. So don't threaten me. I asked you as a sign of respect you said no and that's all I need. Don't act like you can sue me or do anything to me over it because you can not. And I continue to respect your wish not to post your comments or any but my own. Just don't be a jerk over it. I might not be happy with things but that doesn't mean I am not an honorable person.
Email #7
Do you mind if I quote your E-mails? I am writing a post on RCU referring to this entire issue and I do not want to miss quote you. FWIW, Dr Frank forbid me using yours or his but in fairness I thought I would as you for your permission too.
Regards,
Ken Bryant